One of Nollywood’s most celebrated actors, Deyemi Okanlawon, has revealed that he completely stepped away from acting in 2019 after becoming disillusioned with the financial realities and professional standards within the industry, offering a rare and candid insight into the challenges faced by performers behind the glamour and public acclaim.
Speaking during a recent episode of the CreativiTea podcast, the award winning actor disclosed that despite his passion for acting and his growing reputation within Nigeria’s film industry, he reached a point where continuing his career no longer made personal or professional sense. According to Okanlawon, the combination of inadequate financial compensation and a lack of creative fulfilment ultimately compelled him to abandon the profession and return to corporate employment.
Reflecting on one of the most difficult decisions of his professional life, Okanlawon explained that he had initially left a stable corporate career to pursue acting because he believed the profession would provide both artistic satisfaction and meaningful career growth. However, the reality of working conditions and compensation within the industry gradually eroded that optimism.
“So, I quit acting in 2019. I quit because the pay was nonsense, the work was nonsense. And I just felt like I didn’t leave 9 to 5 work to come and do mediocre work,” the actor revealed during the interview. He further explained that the growing disconnect between his passion for acting and his actual experience within the industry made it increasingly difficult to remain motivated.
According to Okanlawon, the lack of professional fulfilment became so profound that continuing to pursue acting no longer appeared worthwhile. He acknowledged that waking up every day to engage in work that failed to provide either adequate financial reward or personal satisfaction eventually forced him to reconsider his career path entirely. The actor subsequently returned to the corporate world, resuming conventional employment while reassessing his long term professional ambitions.
The disclosure offers a significant perspective on the broader structural challenges confronting Africa’s entertainment industry. Although Nollywood has evolved into one of the world’s largest film industries by volume and has gained increasing international recognition through global streaming platforms and international distribution networks, concerns regarding remuneration, working conditions, production quality and long term career sustainability continue to affect many actors and creative professionals.
What makes Okanlawon’s revelation particularly significant is that it comes from an actor who has since become one of Nollywood’s most recognizable and commercially successful figures. Following his temporary departure, he eventually returned to the film industry after receiving encouragement and opportunities from some of Nigeria’s most influential filmmakers. Productions such as Omo Ghetto: The Saga and several subsequent projects helped reestablish his position as one of the leading figures in contemporary African cinema.
The historical importance of Okanlawon’s account extends beyond his personal experience. His decision to publicly discuss his departure from acting challenges longstanding assumptions about success within the entertainment industry and highlights the growing conversation surrounding creative labour, professional dignity and economic sustainability across Africa’s cultural industries. His experience demonstrates that public recognition and professional acclaim do not always translate into financial security or personal fulfilment.
As Nollywood continues its transformation into a globally recognized entertainment powerhouse, Okanlawon’s candid reflections may contribute to broader discussions about industry reform, fair compensation and the creation of sustainable career pathways for future generations of African actors and creative professionals. His story ultimately serves as a reminder that passion alone is rarely sufficient to sustain a career without corresponding professional fulfilment, financial stability and institutional support.
